EDITORIAL - Liberating Marawi

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, according to reports, wants to declare Marawi a liberated city today, to coincide with the country’s 119th Independence Day anniversary.

Before celebrating, the nation must pay tribute to those who have paid with their lives, and those who continue to risk life and limb to liberate Marawi from the Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists, and to keep the threat from spreading to other parts of the country.

Although seemingly outnumbered and outgunned by the AFP, the terrorists appear to be enjoying the support of moneyed individuals and certain sectors. Over the weekend the terrorists managed to kill 13 Marines during 16 hours of fierce firefights, in an area in Marawi where the AFP believes Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, said to be the IS leader in the Philippines, is holed out.

Security officers are verifying reports that Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah, founding chieftains of the group, were among those killed over the weekend as government forces closed in on the core group that is trying to carve out an IS enclave in Mindanao.

Much progress has been made since the AFP launched its offensive in Marawi, supported by commandos of the Philippine National Police. While the deaths of the Mautes are still being validated, the government definitely has in its custody the brothers’ parents, both of whom are believed to have played a critical role in providing financing, weapons and logistics to the terrorist group. Matriarch Ominta “Farhana” Romato in particular should be investigated for the source of her substantial assets, which should be frozen and seized if these were illegally amassed.

Honoring those who have given up their lives in liberating Marawi should include determined efforts to ensure that the Mautes can no longer recover and threaten any part of the country again. That certainty would provide a great cause for celebrating Independence Day.